We are honored to have the support of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio & the Office of The Mayor for the Go Africa 2018 SF (Carnival) on 7/14/2018

We are honored again to have the support of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio & the Office of the Mayor of NYC again for our upcoming Street Festival on 7/14/2018!

The Go Africa Carnival 2018 will take place on 07/14/2018

from 10am – 7pm on 116th Street btw. 7th & 8th Aves.

please self-register via Eventbrite https://goafricaharlem2018.eventbrite.com

or email Info@GoAfricaHarlem.org or phone 646-502-9778 Ext. 8001 more information can be found at www.GoAfricaHarlem.org

About Mayor Bill de Blasio 

As New York City’s 109th mayor, Bill de Blasio is committed to fighting the income inequality that has created a ‘Tale of Two Cities’ across the five boroughs. Mayor de Blasio believes all New Yorkers deserve a chance to succeed in the greatest city on earth. That means every child gets a quality education, every community is safe, and every New Yorker has an affordable place to call home.

The 109th Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, came into office in 2014 determined to ensure that this city remains a place for everyone.

Since assuming office in 2014, the de Blasio administration has developed and executed transformative initiatives including Pre-K for All; Paid Sick Leave; neighborhood policing; IDNYC; and Housing New York, the largest, most ambitious affordable housing plan in the nation.

As the Mayor’s second term begins, crime is at historic lows and police and communities are coming together. Student test scores are up citywide and the graduation rate has never been higher. A five-borough economy has emerged, with a record number of jobs. New York is building or preserving affordable apartments at a pace not seen in decades and the city is ahead of its commitment to cut greenhouse emissions 80 percent by 2050.

But there is much more to do and Mayor de Blasio has pledged to work tirelessly to make this the fairest big city in America. This includes deepening neighborhood policing and further reducing crime; adding 3-K to our school system; increasing the original affordable housing goals by 100,000 apartments; and creating 100,000 good-paying jobs.

Mayor de Blasio will also continue to be an outspoken progressive voice on issues that touch the lives of his fellow New Yorkers, including: income inequality, early childhood education, immigration reform, infrastructure, and voting rights. These issues of basic fairness for every New Yorker have animated Mayor de Blasio’s life and career across three decades of activism and public service.

Bill de Blasio was born on May 8, 1961 in Manhattan and raised in Cambridge, MA. He is a graduate of New York University and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He began his career in public service in 1989 as part of David N. Dinkins’ successful and historic mayoral campaign and worked in the Dinkins Administration.

Over the next decade, Mr. de Blasio served as regional director at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; as a school board member for Brooklyn School District 15; and as head of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s historic campaign in 2000 for the U.S. Senate.

In 2002, Mr. de Blasio joined the New York City Council, representing Brooklyn’s 39th district. During his two terms, Mr. de Blasio fought to improve public education, expand affordable housing, protect tenants’ rights, and reform social services for families and children. Elected Public Advocate in 2009, he pursued fairness for tenants, taxpayers, and students.

Mr. de Blasio has been happily married to Chirlane McCray, the First Lady of New York City, since 1994. They are the proud parents of Chiara and Dante.

https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/bio.page

Go Africa Award 2018 Recipient: Joseph N. Garba

We are pleased to announce that Joseph N. Garba  has been selected by our award committee to receive an award for his years of service to the African, African-American, and Caribbean Communities 

Please join us with your presence and spirit on 7/14/2018 at the Go Africa Harlem 2018 Street festival when Joseph N. Garba receives his well deserved recognition for his selfless service to our community and the great City of New York throughout the years.

The Go Africa Carnival 2018 will take place on 07/14/2018

from 10am – 7pm on 116th Street btw. 7th & 8th Aves.

please self-register via Eventbrite https://goafricaharlem2018.eventbrite.com

or email Info@GoAfricaHarlem.org or phone 646-502-9778 Ext. 8001 more information can be found at www.GoAfricaHarlem.org

About Joseph N. Garba:

Joseph N. Garba, secretary to the NYS assembly Speaker for Intergovernmental Relations

Joseph N. Garba is currently serving in the role of secretary to the Speaker for Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Garba has extensive experience in New York State and city government, most recently serving as deputy borough president for the Borough of Manhattan, with a focus on budget and policy. He previously served as the director of State Legislative Affairs for the City of New York in the Office of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Prior to that, he worked in a variety of other roles in city and state government. He earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University at Albany where he also served as President of the Public Affairs Student Association.

Go Africa Award 2018 Recipient: Famod Konneh

We are pleased to announce that Famod Konneh has been selected by our award committee to receive an award for his years of service to the African, African-American, and Caribbean Communities 

Please join us with your presence and spirit on 7/14/2018 at the Go Africa Harlem 2018 Street festival when Mr. Konneh receives his well deserved recognition for his selfless service to our community and the great City of New York throughout the years.

The Go Africa Harlem Street Festival will take place on 07/14/2018

from 10am – 7pm on 116th Street btw. 7th & 8th Aves.  please self-register via Eventbrite https://goafricaharlem2018.eventbrite.com

or email Info@GoAfricaHarlem.org or phone 646-502-9778 Ext. 8001

 

About Famod Konneh

Bronx Borough Director & African Liaison, New York City Mayor’s Office Community Affairs Unit

@Famodk1 @mayorsCAU

 

Famod Konneh is the Bronx Borough Director & African Liaison of the New York City Mayor’s Office Community Affairs Unit (CAU). The Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (CAU) is the fundamental connection between City Hall and New York City residents throughout the five boroughs. Before joining the Mayor’s Office, Mr. Konneh worked for the New York County District Attorney’s Office as the Senior Specialized Coordinator for over six years. Mr. Konneh is a member of the Manhattan Borough President African Task Force and the founding Chair of the Bronx Borough President’s African Advisory Council. Mr. Konneh graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics (BSc) from the University of Liberia and a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from Baruch College School of Public Affairs.

 

Support Africa & immigrant rights: Go Africa Fundraiser for Congressman Adriano Espaillat on 2/22/2018

We have heard from many in the community who are inquiring how to do something given the current state of affairs.  donate here

U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat is a leading voice in Washington in the fight for what is right for our communities and Africa.  attend the upcoming fundraiser on 2/22/2018 from 6pm – 10pm @ 543 West 141st Street NY, NY 10031 in Hamilton heights register or donate at https://espaillat2018.eventbrite.com

 

 

Go Africa Health LLC,  SJ Medical PLLC, Go Africa LLC, & the African & Caribbean Communities at  Large are honored to host a fundraiser in support of the Honorable Congressman Adriano Espaillat for reelection to the United States Congress Representing New York’s 13th Congressional District.

about Congressman Espaillat

U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat proudly represents New York’s Thirteenth Congressional District. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2017, during the 115th Congress.

 

Congressman Espaillat was born in the Dominican Republic in 1954 and came to the United States with his family when he was nine years old.  He grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City and is the first Dominican-American to serve in the United States Congress.  Congressman Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Select Committee on Small Business.  He is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and serves as Chairman of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing.

 

A steadfast champion for working- and middle-class New Yorkers, Congressman Espaillat is a staunch advocate of a fair living wage, immediate and effective investments in affordable housing, meaningful criminal justice reform, infrastructure improvements, expanded youth programs, and better educational opportunities.

 

Throughout the tenure of his career in public service, Congressman Espaillat has been a vocal advocate for protecting tenants, improving schools, and making serious, smart investments in economic development, job creation, and environmental protection.  Prior to coming to Congress, he served as a New York State Senator during which he represented the neighborhoods of Marble Hill, Inwood, Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, West Harlem, the Upper West Side, Hell’s Kitchen, Clinton, and Chelsea.

 

While in the New York State Senate, Congressman Espaillat served as the Ranking Member of the Senate Housing, Construction, and Community Development Committee; Chairman of the Senate Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus; and as a member of the Environmental Conservation, Economic Development, Codes, Insurance, and Judiciary committees. Prior to his tenure as a state senator, he served in the New York State Assembly, and in 1996 became the first Dominican-American elected to a state legislature.

We are honored to announce the support of NYS Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie for the 2nd annual African Union Expo 2016

We are honored to announce the support of NYS assembly speaker Carl E. Heastie for the 2nd annual African Union Expo 2016.

Visit AfricanUnionExpo.org for more information for Merchants and general Attendees or email  info@africanunionexpo.com or phone 646-502-9778 Ext. 8002

nys-speaker-heastie

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY

 

November 15, 2016

Dear Friends:

Please accept my sincere greetings as you gather to celebrate the African Union Expo LLC, Go Africa Capital LLC, and The Go Africa Network Inc.’s 2nd annual African Union Expo 2016.

The proud beginning of this event was to strengthen the economic, social and governmental cooperation between Africa and America. This year’s Expo will focus on understanding the importance of a business plan and discovering sources of funding. This unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, startups and companies to engage, interact and learn formative knowledge will help advance the awareness and socio-economic development of Africa through local and international outreach initiatives for the evolving future.

This innovative Expo will highlight and reinforce the economic, political and social ties between the African Union Member countries and the United States of America – bringing together businessmen and political leaders to exchange views and news on promoting trade and investment opportunities. This is an opportunity for government and companies to engage and interact to better understand our evolving futures.

Again, congratulations on your 2nd annual African Union Expo, and best wishes to The Go Africa Capital LLC and The Go Africa Network, Inc. for continued success.

Sincerely,

CARL E. HEASTIE

Speaker

african-union-expo-nys-speak-heastie-10-17-2016

Italy’s ‘Fertility Day’ Call to Make Babies Arouses Anger, Not Ardor

 follow us on twitter: @GoAfricaNetwork ,@DocSamuelJones

The New York Times

SEPT. 13, 2016

“The government encourages us to have babies and then the main welfare system in Italy is still the grandparents,” said Vittoria Iacovella, a journalist and mother of two girls. Credit Nadia Shira Cohen for The New York Times.

“The government encourages us to have babies and then the main welfare system in Italy is still the grandparents,” said Vittoria Iacovella, a journalist and mother of two girls.

Continue reading

(Daily News) EXCLUSIVE: Ted Cruz knows ‘absolutely nothing’ about counterterrorism in NYC, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton says

BY  | SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | Updated: Saturday, March 26, 2016, 7:18 PM
Ted Cruz speaks during an appearance in Virginia.STEVE HELBER/AP

Ted Cruz speaks during an appearance in Virginia.

There seems to be a widespread belief among certain members of the political class that protecting the country against terrorism is a matter of ideology. According to them, the strong leaders in this area are the ones who are willing to insult Muslims, advocate torture, and engage in various other provocations. They claim that other leaders are paralyzed by political correctness and that they alone have the ideological fortitude to guard against the terrorist threat.

Terrorism is ideologically driven but counterterrorism, like other kinds of police work, has no ideological component whatsoever. It is about stopping the terrorists before they strike. That requires intelligence gathering, analysis and focused investigative work.

In the event of a terrorist attack, police also need the capacity to respond swiftly and with effective tactics. It is a matter of consistent, determined, targeted detective work, of highly trained and well-equipped operational units, and of intelligence analysts who can interpret the data, decipher the chatter and distinguish the real threats from the bluster and the noise.

Recently, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz called for police to “patrol and secure Muslim communities before they become radicalized.” We already patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods, the same way we patrol and secure other neighborhoods.

When people call the police, we rush to help them. When people break the law, we move to arrest them. But no, we do not single out any populace, black, white, yellow or brown for selective enforcement. We do not “patrol and secure” neighborhoods based on selective enforcement because of race or religion, nor will we use the police and an occupying force to intimidate a populace or a religion to appease the provocative chatter of politicians seeking to exploit fear.

Bill Bratton holds a press conference in New York City.ANDREW BURTON/GETTY IMAGES

Bill Bratton holds a press conference in New York City.

Nor will we accept the fiction of Sen. Cruz’s narrative as presented. Cruz repeated the false reports surrounding the NYPD Demographics Unit and my decision to abolish it because it wasn’t serving any useful purpose. He tried to depict the demise of the unit, as other ill-informed observers have done, as a knuckling under to the forces of political correctness rather than the sensible administrative decision that it was. The fact is that the former administration had allowed the unit to dwindle down to two investigators. Why? Because the work of the unit, which was to map the ethnic makeup of the city to better understand the domain of the New York metropolitan area, was finished. The two remaining detectives simply had little to do.

This sensible move was translated in the bumper-sticker, sound bite language of politics to be one of two extremes. Either transferring the last two detectives out of the Demographics Unit ended an extensive spying program that inhibited religious freedom (it wasn’t and it didn’t) or, we eliminated the key program protecting New York City from terrorists and with it, our undercover operations, informants and surveillance (it wasn’t and we didn’t).

Members of the NYPD Strategic Response Group stand outside NYPD headquarters after a press conference in New York City.ANDREW BURTON/GETTY IMAGES

Members of the NYPD Strategic Response Group stand outside NYPD headquarters after a press conference in New York City.

It is clear from his comments that Sen. Cruz knows absolutely nothing about counterterrorism in New York City. We have in this city, without a doubt, the most effective and extensive counterterrorism capacity of any city in this country and virtually any city in the world. Let me count the ways:

—The Joint-Terrorism Task Force, with the FBI, has more than 100 NYPD detectives working full time on counterterrorism investigations. They do not place entire communities under surveillance, but at any given time, based on authorized investigations, they may be watching individuals who have aroused suspicion as to possibly being involved in terrorist activity. Our Intelligence Bureau detectives work with informants, surveillance teams, undercover officers and cyber specialists on investigations that are documented, authorized and regularly reviewed to protect the city from terrorism.

—The Critical Response Command, founded on Mayor de Blasio’s watch, deploys more than 500 highly trained and thoroughly equipped officers to critical sites and potential targets. These officers would be immediately deployable to any attack, or series of attacks, and could engage heavily armed terrorists without delay. Given the pattern of attacks in Europe where terrorists hit multiple sites simultaneously and showed the clear intention to kill as many people as possible, these new units have the mission of engaging the terrorists, as quickly as possible, with equal firepower and superior training to stop the killing as soon as possible. The CRC is backed up by other commands with counterterrorism capabilities, including the Strategic Response Group and the Emergency Service Unit. These NYPD units have the capacity to deploy hundreds of heavily armed officers to any attack site in the city at any time of the day or night.

—The NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau, which encompasses both the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Critical Response Command, also houses a wide variety of other capabilities, including a 40-officer bomb squad; a 150-officer World Trade Center Command; radiological detection water vessels and aircraft; an infrastructure unit that hardens targets across the city; and a public-private partnership called SHIELD, with a membership of some 15,000 local property and business owners.

—The NYPD Intelligence Bureau is staffed not only with police officers but highly skilled civilian intelligence analysts, the sort of experts who work in national intelligence. They are continuously vetting leads, hints and rumors to keep the threat picture in New York updated. The Intelligence Bureau also maintains liaison officers in multiple cities around the world who can swiftly report back to us on any attack anywhere on Earth.

—The NYPD Domain Awareness System is one of the most sophisticated networks of cameras, license plate readers and radiological censors in the world, providing real-time information across southern Manhattan and in many other parts of the city.

The dashboard for the NYPD's Domain Awareness System (DAS) is seen in New York.SHANNON STAPLETON/REUTERS

The dashboard for the NYPD’s Domain Awareness System (DAS) is seen in New York.

So, no, transferring the two detectives we found languishing in the already defunct Demographics Unit did not have any effect on our ability to protect New York City from terrorists. Sen. Cruz’s references to the discontinuance of the Demographics Unit shows he has been hoodwinked by a 21st century fairy tale that refuses to die. He uses it in tandem with his suggestions that the police create a looming presence to intimidate Muslim neighborhoods with a show of force.

In New York City, we protect all communities from crime and terrorism — yes, Muslim communities too — because like us, they are Americans who own businesses, work hard, pay taxes and dream of a better life for their children. Over 900 of them work in my police department as police officers, many of them in counterterrorism and intelligence. Many of them have served in the military and fought for their country. We police our city not by campaign slogans or inflammatory rhetoric, but by an old piece of parchment called the U.S. Constitution and another called the Bill of Rights.

Ted Cruz and others seem to be willing to sideline these principles because what they stand for shifts with the tide of the campaign and the shrillness of the name-calling. But as it has been said, when you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything. Sen. Cruz needs to do some homework before he speaks again.

Meanwhile, in New York, we will continue keeping the city safe while policing constitutionally, respectfully and effectively.

Bratton is the commissioner of the NYPD.

The article was published in the New York Daily News.

(National Interest) Senegal: The Linchpin of Security in West Africa

Seth J. Frantzman

Image: Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Marine Corps.

Senegalese military personnel are voting in a national referendum on March 13. The rest of Senegal votes in the same referendum on March 20. The military is voting early so that it can be alert during what is hoped will be a peaceful vote. Dakar, the capital of this country of fourteen million, is decked out in posters shouting “Oui”: vote “yes” for strengthening democracy and the rule of law. The referendum concerns reducing the term limit of the presidency and other initiatives. It is a reminder that this is a sub-Saharan African country that is a historically stable democracy, in a region that has seen coups, dictatorship and most recently, Islamist extremism.

A week in this West African state gives an idea of the security challenges it is facing. Dakar port, which is the second largest after Ivory Coast’s Abidjan, is an entree to West Africa and a gateway to Mali, where France intervened to prevent a takeover of the country by Islamist rebels and their allies in 2013. The security here is noticeable, with private security running checks on passengers, and a local police and gendarme detachment. The Senegalese navy is based here and the coast guard does regular patrols from the harbor.

Soldiers have been deployed in districts where there is nightlife in Dakar. Hotels in the capital have also upped security after the attacks on November 20 in Bamako which killed twenty, on Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso on January 15 which killed 30, and in Ivory Coast on March 13. Much of this security seems symbolic rather than necessarily reflecting deep experience or expertise. But there is no doubt that Senegal is taking it seriously and most of those we spoke with felt there was a terror threat and that leaders were cognizant of it.

Senegal’s capital may be 1,200 miles from Ouagadougou, but it feels much closer. If terrorists could slip into that country and attack a hotel, couldn’t they do it here, which is equidistant from Mali or Mauritania where the extremists operate. The U.S. Army’s Flintlock exercise which began on February 8 in the village of Theis an hour east of Dakar, is symbolic of the faith Western powers and regional powers put in Senegal’s influence and its desire to be vigilant against extremism. U.S. Army Brigadier General Donald C. Bolduc said of the thirty-nation exercise that “it is more than a military exercise, we are training together to increase our interoperability and collaboration to counter today’s threats.” Senegal led this year’s exercise.

Aminata Touré, a former prime minister and currently adviser to the president says that one of the great long term threats to security can be youth unemployment. “There is a relationship between instability and youth unemployment. That is the first threat to security and social stability. Of course, we are concerned by security issues, we are surrounded by countries with troubles.” Many Senegalese emphasize that the country was able to prevent Ebola from crossing the border after the outbreak in West Africa in 2014, which points to an ability to close a porous border if necessary.

According to local security analysts the Senegalese army is of a high quality compared to its neighbors. It does not play a role in politics, an issue that has harmed armies in other countries in this region because of suspicion between the presidential guard units and other units. Senegal’s army also has experience fighting in Mali and most recently in Yemen, where it sent 2,100 troops to join the Saudi-led coalition in May of 2015. SO far, more than a dozen Senegalese have joined ISIS and related groups. In December, for example, one medical student at Senegal’s largest university posted on Facebook that he had gone to join ISIS. Four local imams were arrested in November for supporting extremism. A Pew Research Center poll released the same month showed that while 60 percent found ISIS unfavorable there were 10 percent who found it more palatable.

Many local experts say that the tradition of large Sufi brotherhoods in Senegal means extremists have difficulty taking root. Professor Ibrahim Thioub, the rector of the University Cheikh Anta Diop, says that on the fringes of these brotherhoods are figures who are marginalized and punished if they promote extremism. “The brotherhood knows how to discipline these urban youth leaders. But the problem is the Salafists who exist in Senegal since the 1950s. The radicalization in the last years, it is slightly more, but not like in Mali, or Mauritania, because there is something else. The brotherhoods are able to organize and have a strong network.” He argues that even abroad, where Senegalese might be exposed to extremism—in France, for example—these brotherhoods have local chapters and encourage moderation and a very Senegalese version of Islam. Amsatou Sow Sidibé, a former presidential candidate, agrees that the people of Senegal are the strongest asset the country has against the regional developments:

“[Terrorism] is terrible. We must have solidarity both of the people here and of the countries. It’s not good. We haven’t had any acts of terror but we don’t know. It is a possibility. We don’t have eyes to see the future. We must be vigilante, and the public must be educated to be vigilante.”

Part of that vigilance is relying on these local brotherhoods and citizens to inform on any extremists who may be operating. The concept is to rely on human intelligence and the strong social solidarity in Senegal which is different than some of the region’s states whose instability led to the rise of groups like Boko Haram, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and ISIS. In some cases these extremists preyed on tribal, ethnic or religious differences, or perceptions that the government was suppressing local people. Senegal, whose population is 95 percent Muslim, appears to have very strong feelings of social solidarity.

Nevertheless the fact is that Senegal has become a base for many regional embassies, due to the Ebola outbreak in neighboring states and to the country’s relative stability. That means Senegal has a strong foundation of international support but also is a target. Those foreign embassies, foreign nationals, hotels and NGOs can all present a target—like in Bamako and Ouagadougou—where Islamists seek to carry out spectacular attacks to harm the image of a country through mass murder.

So far, Senegal’s decision to send troops abroad has given its army experience, and its hosting of regional security exercises such as Flintlock are a welcome development. The key would be if the country could project its stability to neighboring states, and anchor the West African security system against the threats of extremists.

Seth J. Frantzman is a Jerusalem-based journalist who holds a PhD from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The article was published in the National Interest Online.

(NYT) Carson Endorses the Demagogue

Ben Carson endorsed Donald Trump in a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. (Todd Heisler/The New York Times)

 | 

On Friday, I watched yet another bizarre scene from an already bizarre election cycle: The affable but hopelessly vacant Ben Carson endorsing the demagogic real estate developer who once said of Carson that he had a “pathological temper” as a child and compared him to a child molester.

Carson said in his endorsement speech that there are actually “two different” sides to the front-runner.

What does this mean? Which one is real? Are they both? Is there a Jekyll to this Hyde? It was an exceedingly strange and feeble attempt to diminish the danger that this man poses, but in a way, if anyone could understand this duality, it would be Carson.

This is the same Ben Carson who has inveighed against the “purveyors of division,” who played a video at his presidential campaign announcement in Detroit in which the narrator said in part:

“If America is to survive the challenges of the modern world, we need to heal, we need to be inspired, and we need to revive the exceptional spirit that built America. Never before have we been so closely connected to each other, but more divided as a country.”

This is the same Ben Carson who used this closing statement at the sixth Republican presidential debate in North Charleston, S.C., by imploring Americans to join him “in truth and honesty and integrity.”

Ben Carson endorsed Donald Trump in a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Credit Todd Heisler/The New York Times
And yet, on Friday, Carson endorsed one of the most dangerous and divisive demagogues in recent presidential election history, a man for whom “truth and honesty and integrity” are infinitely malleable, and easily discarded, concepts, and whose rallies have been plagued by vileness and violence.

Carson, like so many conservatives, isn’t truly interested in unity as much as silent submission, a quiet in which one can pretend that hostility has been quashed, all evidence to the contrary.

These are folks who view discussions about reducing racial inequity and increasing queer equality as divisive. They are people who see efforts to protect women’s health, in particular their full range of reproductive options, including abortion, and to reverse our staggering income inequality as divisive. Indeed, the very words white supremacy, privilege, racism, bias, sexism, misogyny, patriarchy, homophobia, and poverty are seen as divisive.

Somehow, they think, these very real oppressive forces will simple die if only deprived of conversational oxygen. In fact, the opposite is true. By not naming these forces and continuously confronting, they strengthen and spread.

Carson’s endorsement further tarnished his already tarnished reputation. He validated and rubber-stamped a grandiloquent fascist who is supported by a former grand wizard.

All Carson’s calls for civility were in that moment proven hollow.

No wonder so many Americans despise politicians and see them as soulless and without principle. And although both these men pride themselves on being political outsiders who’ve never held political office, they are undoubtedly political animals and relentless personal brand promoters who chase a check over a cliff.

But the more I thought about it, the more sense it began to make. Carson and the real estate developer are not so different from one another in this predilection for outrageous utterances, it’s just that one smiles and the other scowls.

This is the same Ben Carson who called President Obama a psychopath who is possibly guilty of treason and was, oh my, “raised white.” He has accused President Obama of working to “destroy this nation” and compared Obama’s supporters to Nazi sympathizers.

This is the same Ben Carson who on a radio show in 2013 said of white liberals:

“Well, they’re the most racist people there are because, you know, they put you in a little category, a little box — you have to think this way. How could you dare come off the plantation?”

This is the same Ben Carson who has compared women who have abortions to slave owners, who said Obamacare is the worst thing since slavery — yes, he’s obsessed with slavery — and that being gay is a choice because people go to prison straight and leave gay. On the issue of whether a Muslim should allowed to be president, he said:

Every weekday, get thought-provoking commentary from Op-Ed columnists, The Times editorial board and contributing writers from around the world.

“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.”

Carson isn’t the only one. Chris Christie’s endorsement of the front-runner is just as baffling and unprincipled. As The Los Angeles Times put it:

“Christie had spent years curating an image as a policy-focused administrator who reached out to Muslims and Latinos, and he was rewarded with rock star status in the national Republican Party. Now he’s backing a candidate who has insulted minorities, shown a casual disregard for policy discussions and is reviled by the party’s establishment.”

And yet it is Carson’s endorsement that I find more interesting, not because it will have a greater impact, but because he and the front-runner are two sides of the same coin: they are both dangerous, but one is a narcissist who just might win the nomination and the other is a near-narcoleptic who never had a chance.

The article was published in the New York Times.